One way to distinguish a well-functioning church from one less well functioning is how it treats its novices — the “noob” or “newbie” — and that includes those entering ministerial life. We were all novices once, and failing to guide and shape the new and inexperienced is no credit to one’s expertise.
A bit of [...]
I was thinking about the steps a new church might take to get established, including whether or not to apply for recognition of non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Casting around, I discovered there are IRS online trainings, including one about 18 minutes long about applying for nonprofit status.
I’d grade them a B-minus, but helpful [...]
Anglican priest and blogger Andii Bowsher (Nouslife) outlines a service of worship conducted around a table, say at a cafe or restaurant. The key is low-volume, shared participation. Which isn’t too strange: people hive off to coffee shops for meeting all the time here.
I don’t know if I’d come up with what he did, but [...]
The Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees, at its most recent meeting, admitted the Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Maryville, Tennessee to membership. (Source: UUWorld)
I mention this because
of my concern about how few new congregations are entering the UUA.
because we ought to celebrate our congregational transitions openly.
and because my mother’s family is from Knoxville, [...]
I ask without irony: is anyone doing anything exciting in the typesetting of worship orders of service (service sheets)? Seen anything interesting? Please comment.
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Metro Kannapolis? Greater Salisbury? I have a certain affection for that part of south-central North Carolina. (Enough placenames for Google hits, ya think?)
Jeff Pender and some other Unitarian Universalists near Lake Norman are trying to organize a new Unitarian Universalist congregation.
I wish them well. Good use of a blog, too. Details here.
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Reviewing the packet of Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees for their forthcoming meeting, including minutes from their meeting in October. No new congregations affiliated with the UUA (but none disaffiliated either.) One moved districts. No evidence of an congregational action in the January meeting
A worrying sign following several years of almost no congregational [...]
I’ve been hearing quite a bit lately — in the various spheres of my life — about using case studies to guide a project. Imagine, say, you have a program at church and want to make sure it works for its participants. You might come up with case studies for a few archetypal participants, and [...]
One of the reasons I’m not falling into despair after the passing of California Prop 8 is that I know the culture is changing very fast, and that in time it will fall. Religious, and particularly Christian, appeals to anti-gay hate and fear will appeal to fewer and fewer people. Two problems there:
We will end [...]
I’m having unformed thoughts, and rather than trying to get them all ironed out, I thought I would open the floor.
What is the simplest church you know of? Simple in organization, mission, membership, finances and leadership. What do you think the simplest church could be? What “complications” — even hallowed ones — would you vote [...]
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